QUALITY MATTERS

QUALITY MATTERS

Kennesaw State University relies on an internal faculty peer-review process to implement Quality Matters (QM) standards in online courses.
The KSU/QM review process and QM rubric are built around 4 central themes:

The Distance Learning Center will guide you through this process of online teaching certification, course design to meet national QM standards, and submitting a course for peer-review.

Course submission Deadlines

Online course submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Upon receipt of the completed Course Worksheet reviewers will be assigned to the course.
Upon the successful completion of the review process, a course can be opened for registration. The deadlines below are for faculty developers that
partner with instructional designers and submit their courses for informal pre-review and feedback prior to formal submission.
The deadlines provided do not allow adequate time for a course that is not fully developed.
Courses planned for future semesters that do not need to meet the early registration deadline can be submitted at any time for any upcoming semester.
If a course does not successfully complete the review process prior to the start of registration, the course will be placed on a registration hold pending updates,
re-submission and certification.

SPRING 2015- courses should be submitted by October 3, 2014 to guarantee an initial review prior to opening of registration on November 3, 2014.

SUMMER 2015- courses should be submitted by February 09, 2015 to guarantee an initial review prior to opening of registration on March 09, 2015.

Fall 2015- courses should be submitted by February 23, 2015 to guarantee an initial review prior to opening of registration on March 23, 2015.

In support of the KSU Online Course Quality Initiative, KSU has partnered with Quality Matters for faculty/peer reviewer training materials and certification courses. Additional training opportunities are available through specific college programs.

Click on "View" next to the course name. Click "Edit" under "Review Actions" to begin the worksheet. ** Please note that almost every blank in the form requires some kind of input, even if it's just "N/A". The form will not let you submit with open fields.** ** Make sure to save regularly. There is a 2-hour time out that can cause you to lose work if you don't save in that time period. Typing and viewing the page do not reset the timer. The "Save Worksheet" button is located at the bottom of the page.**

When the worksheet is complete click the "Save & Submit Worksheet" button at the bottom of the page, which officially places the course in the queue to be reviewed.

Online course review process

Quality Matters at KSU

The online course review process at Kennesaw State University is an internal institutional review conducted by a team of certified faculty peer reviewers utilizing the Quality Matters Course Review Management System. Reviewers are faculty members with experience designing and delivering distance education courses.

A review team consists of a review chair and two additional peer reviewers. It is the goal of the Distance Learning Center to make the review process a positive one,
while maintaining the high quality of online course design and delivery at KSU. The underlying principles of QM are centered on 4 central themes:

1. Continuous Improvement -- all courses will eventually meet standards

2. Centered -- on research, student learning and quality

3. Collegial -- faculty driven and diagnostic

4. Collaborative -- flexible and not prescriptive

For more information about the peer review process, or to learn how to become a peer reviewer, please contact the DLC at (470) 578-7550 or distancelearning@kennesaw.edu

Once the Course Worksheet has been completed and the course has been submitted for review:

The institutional representative will review the worksheet and approve it if complete.The Course Worksheet provides a place for the faculty developer to communicate with the review team to inform their review.
If information is missing, the worksheet will be returned for modification.

A team of 3 KSU peer reviewers will be assigned to the course.

The DLC will provide the faculty peer reviewers' access to the course in D2L.

Course Reviews generally take 2-3 weeks to complete.

You will receive an email from the Review Chair via the QM Course Review Management System when your internal course review has been completed.

Closing the Review

Courses that successfully complete the review process by meeting all 21 Essential Standards and earn at least 84/99 points on the QM Rubric are unconditionally approved.

Please complete the Review Outcome Response Form indicating your acceptance of the review results. The review will not be completed and closed until this form is submitted.

Once complete, the Distance Learning Center will provide you with a letter certifying the course and a certificate of completion.

If a course does not meet all 21 Essential Standards and earn at least 84/99 points, the faculty member can work with the review team to make necessary revisions before
the final review is submitted. If the faculty developer needs more time to make revisions, the review will be closed and revisions may be submitted at a later date (See Step 3).

You will receive an email from the Review Chair via the QM Course Review Management System when your internal course review has been completed. To close the review in the QM system please complete the Review Outcome Response Form.

Course Revisions and Resubmission

Courses that do not meet all 21 Essential Standards and earn at least 84/99 points on the QM Rubric may be revised and resubmitted within the same review cycle.

The Course Review Final Report will provide specific information on the revisions requested. You may also contact the Distance Learning Center and Review Chair for additional consult.

Once revisions are made, please submit the Faculty Amendment Form to describe and delineate revisions to the review chair.

Using the completed Faculty Amendment Form as a guide, the review chair will determine if the course meets standards and will adjust the QM scored as appropriate.

Please note, online courses may not be opened for registration without successfully completing the QM internal faculty peer review process.

Training Materials and videos

Becoming a KSU Online Course Peer reviewer

KSU Peer Reviewer certification is available for faculty members who would like to participate in the KSU/QM Peer Review Process for online courses. Certification courses based on Quality Matters principles are now available on campus.

This certification is delivered as a three-week hybrid course and includes a review of the QM program and its guiding principles. In the workshop, participants will examine the KSU review process, delve deeper into the general standards, practice writing feedback and review a sample course. Individuals who complete this workshop will be eligible to serve as peer reviewers on KSU online course reviews.